Seeing the Invisible

I frequently have opportunities to talk to unbelievers about God, and it just so happens that because of my work in healthcare many of them are very intelligent and/or highly educated. They are not dummies. The have all kinds of letters behind their names (which may or may not be a good thing). They look at the world through then ‘lens’ of science and claim that God can’t exist. The evidence they site for their ‘faith’ in evolution is the very same evidence others use to show that there is a God. How can that kind of difference be possible? It happens because they refuse to acknowledge the invisible, the supernatural. Now, when I use the term supernatural I’m referring to the invisible spiritual realm, and not little purple magic men or anything else like that. God is a Spirit (John 4:24). So are angels and demons. We are also spirits, but we have been given an earthly body which limits us to this natural realm. So when I refer to the supernatural, I am referring to the invisible, spiritual realm. And even though you and I are a part of that realm, we are restricted (for the most part) to operating under the laws and constraints of this earthly existence.

Because of these constraints many scientific people discount the spiritual realm altogether. They continuously tell me that they can’t physically see, hear, smell or touch God, and so therefore there is no proof that God is real. I can sympathize with what they say but only up to a point, because that kind of rationale doesn’t make logical sense.

Rom 1:20-21

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

My response to those that say they can’t see God, so therefore He doesn’t exist is usually something along the lines of; “Don’t you do that practically every day of your life already?” After giving them a minute or two to think about it I gently remind them of some basic scientific practices which indeed are used every day to learn about the world around us:

Can you see the wind? No you can’t because it is invisible, but you can see the evidence.

Can you see magnetic fields? No you can’t because they are invisible, but you can see the evidence.

Can you see gravity? No you can’t because it is invisible, but you can see the evidence;

John 3:8

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Scientists use the powers of observation, hypothesis and repetitive testing to gather evidence of the things they want to learn more about. By restricting themselves to only what they can feel, smell, hear taste or feel these people have effectually become “futile in their thoughts,” and continuously handicap their ability to think logically and rationally about God. The direct result of this “thought futility” is that “their foolish hearts were darkened.” You MUST approach God with your heart (your spirit) because He is a spirit, and so are we. These people have effectively blocked their own ability to hear from the Spirit of God because their minds keep getting in the way with unbelief!

So then, what’s the answer for these people? The Word of God states that we each have the ability – and responsibility – to lovingly share God’s principles with the lost;

2 Tim 2:24-26

 And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

It really comes down to our being willing to engage others for Christ, not through their minds but through their hearts.

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